TO PERFORM & TEACH AFRICAN-BRAZILIAN ARTS Nego Gato Inc. was founded in 1994 with a mission ""To empower and enrich the world community through performance, education, and employment in African-Brazilian arts of music, dance and Capoeira."" The organization is built upon the thirty years of work in African-Brazilian arts by Jose Sena, known professionally as Nego Gato (Black Cat). Nego Gato was born in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil which is considered by many to be ""Africa in the Americas."" Nego Gato grew up in the difficult economic conditions of Bahia, Brazil, but with his skill in the arts he was able to propel himself from poverty into performance halls throughout South America, Europe, Japan, and then the U.S. As a result, the role of the arts as a transformative power in peoples' lives became inextricably interwoven in his vision of what making art meant. Nego Gato Inc. Has as its goal statement to offer world-class performance and learning opportunities locally, nationally and internationally.